Browse News

Wednesday, August 15, 2001

Let me ride

Sometimes you have to sacrifice a little so-called dignity to get down. And if that means listening to something that promises to insult people like that prude Tipper Gore … well … fuck ’em. The Detroit Grand Pubahs (Andy Toth and Paris the Black Fu) have their blenders on puree, mixing hard funk, minimal techno, dark electro and sex-crazed hip hop that’s sure to move that ass, however tight it may be. Parental advisory: explicit lyrics that might make you a grandparent before you know it.

Perhaps it’s unfortunate that graphic sexual content is quickly labeled “perverse” and “adolescent.” But at the end of the day, when the freaks come out, the Pubahs are high-quality adult entertainment — whatever that means.

The Pubahs promise to open up the newly discovered “lost files of funk.” And that’s just what they do on the title cut, which resurrects the P-Funk mothership, and you know it’s funkin’ hot. It’s back to familiar territory with “One Hump or Two,” which is all about the love of booty, dirty-old-man style. “Sandwiches,” the club megahit that broke the Pubahs, tells the ladies that “you can be the bun/and I can be the burger, girl.” “Ride” is a thumping booty anthem, chanting “Skirts up!/Pants down!” “Plasticene Gene” explores a more melodic side of vocalized breakbeat electro. “Artificial Intelligence,” “Schizophrenic Investigator” and “Suture the Future” are a continuous mix of darker electro jams with a heavier focus on pure electronic instrumentalism. “Dr. Bootygrabber” is deep, minimal techno that drops progressively harder as Dr. B instructs his patient to do unspeakable things.

The Pubahs have done more than merely live up to the anticipation and hype; they’ve made a goddamn hilarious album that shows musical depth and is frustrating to listen to in your car because you just need to move.